Abnee niebel



(No Model.) I

A. NIEBEL.

MMANURE FORK.

m m WM w m a P o. E m 2% o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER NIEBEL, OF TIFFIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN W. NIEBEL, OF SAME PLACE.

MANURE FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,810, dated April 28, 1885.

Application filed January 8, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ABNER Nlnnnna citizen of the United States, residing at Tiffin, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manure-Forks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in manure-forks, and is designed to produce a device that can be interchangeably used as a fork or as a hook, as occasion may require.

The improvement consists, essentially,in the mechanism by which the adjustment is effected.

In describing the device reference is had to the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 represents aperspective view of the fork, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through the device.

The fork-head A has on its cross-piece a notched bearing-piece, B, pivoted centrally in the recessed or slotted end 0 of the socket D, in the other end of which fits and is secured the handle E. Within the socket is a springsurrounded pin, F, having a head, G, provided with a slot, H. The head G has a continua tion, I, which projects through the end Ginto the slot therein and normally engages in one of the notches in the piece B. The socket is slotted at K, and has pivoted therein a lever, one end, L, resting within the slot H, and the 7 other end, M, exterior and at about right angles to the shorter end or arm L. The said end or arm M has its free end flattened and curved laterally to conform to and snugly lie on the socket D. either or any position, (the number of notches may be multiplied,) the arm M does not inter fere in the least with the hand, the fork being grasped at about the point where the said arm projects. The narrowed and thickened part forms a convenient point for lifting it with the fingers, its elevation causing the movement of the bolt, formed of the headed pin F and the continuation I, out of the notch in the piece B, thus allowing the fork to be placed in the position desired.

When the fork is locked in The spring causes the return of the bolt and lever to their normal positions.

The socket is made ofone piece, and the openings therein are filled and closed by the parts of the mechanism resting in them, preventing thereby the introduction of dirt.

I am aware that it is not new to make a manure-fork which can be so adjusted upon its handle as to make a rake of it, and I am also aware that spring-bolts have been used for holding the rake and fork-head in position; hence I disclaim these as broadly my invention.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In a manure-fork, the combination, with a pivoted fork-head, of a socket to which the same is pivoted, a spring-actuated bolt having a slot in it, and a lever pivoted to and having one end projecting through the socket into the slotted bolt and the other end eX- terior to the said socket, substantiallyIas and for the purpose specified.

2. In a manure-fork, the combination, with a movable head and locking mechanism therefor, of an operating-lever having one arm exterior to the containing-socket, said arm being flattened and curved to conform to the shape of said socket substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a manure-fork, the combination, with a fork-head having a notched bearing-piece, of a socket slotted to contain said bearingpiece, a spring-actuated slotted bolt having an extension normally resting in one of the notches in the bearing-piece, and a lever pivoted in a slot in the socket, said lever having a short arm projecting into the slot in the bolt and a longer arm flattened and curved to conform to the shape of the socket, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABNER NIEBEL.

IVitnesses:

A. C. BARBOUR, B. B. HAMILTON. 

